THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES #22 - Colony 

During the first half every time Martin pauses I imagine he’s looking to Jon for approval but Jon’s just looking at him dull faced/unimpressed so Martin just awkwardly continues.

Martin: you can vouch for the soundness of my mind can't you? John: ... John: That's besides the point.

I like the fact that Johny Sins hates the word spooky. I imagine when halloween rolls around he is just stuck at home screaming in anger.

Martin getting distracted and talking about tarantulas is a big mood

On one side the whole him losing his phone while Jon still receives his texts (which are obviously now not from him) is kinda expected but creepy, but on the other side it makes me ridiculously happy that Jon, who usually just doesn't take anyone really seriously (in the other episodes, but even at the beginning of this one when he says most people recording their stories are lunatics or something along those lines, I can't remember well), immediately suggests he stay in the archive room because it's well sealed, and takes this threat seriously even though almost every episode Martin is mentioned, Jon doesn't seem to hold him in high esteem.

Jonathon sims: I hate Martin Also jon: sleep here you will be safe it is humidity controlled I will ask for extra protection for you please don't die

Martin: "you can vouch for my soundness of mind, can't you?" Jon: * 3 seconds of marked tape recorder silence*

I think this is my favourite episode so far. We've been hearing about Martin, yet never got to hear him. And when he does appear, boy oh boy, does he have a story to tell. I like Jon's voice, but even when he tries to emulate the emotions, he still reads it like a story. Martin told this honestly, with such emotion. There is something about his voice. Awkward, calming, unsettling at times.

Oh my god this whole time I was picturing Martin sounding like a college stoner or something and it turns out he's adorable??? Also this is very good character development on Jon's front. He's a crotchety old man who's always trash talking Martin, but it seems to be out of extremely high standards rather than personal malice. And the moment Martin indicates he's in danger Jon is thinking about how to keep him safe and comfortable. The fact he wasn't going to push Martin into making a statement says a lot, I think.

Martin: -recalling potentially traumatic events- Jon: -stirs macaroni and cheese for sfx-

martin's first appearance and he's already pining for Jon......i can't even handle this rn

I listened to Martin's voice for about 4 seconds and was like: yup, that's the one. That's baby.

I can imagine: Martin:i kmow you hate the word ...but its really spooky.. Jon: *gritting teeth*

oh, worm?

Damn, Martin is a badass. The guy basically outlasted a siege by an eldritch horror through sheer force of will.

Poor Martin's surprise at Jon taking him seriously for once made me "Aww..." Ya know, like an abused puppy who was shown kindness by the owner for the first time? Poor Martin, Jon please continue not giving him so much shit

The only line of physical description we get for Martian: "I'm not the smallest guy in the world, I know" The fanart community: Ah yes. He a big boy. Big roundy huggable boy. He tall and big and brimming full of love.

Ok but last episode there was a wet splattering sound and Jon went "What are these??" and that hasn't been explained and I'm freaking out.

God I love Martin so much! Tbh this whole time I took john’s word for it and thought that Martin would just be a bum or somthing but he’s so sweet, and not to mention thoughtful. When running away from a horrible creature full of worms that want him dead, all he wanted to do was get a picture of it that would impress John. He’s so good ;-; Also holy hell I’m scared for John now 0-o

I absolutely love the audio, it sounds so real, I can totally see Martin in front of the recorder while Jonathan sits at the other side of the room in another chair arms crossed and all, this is simply great! thank you so much!

I'm not generally into horror. I have an overactive imagination and am prone to nightmares - these, generally, are so clinically reviewed that it is not that much of a problem. This one, however, feeds so directly into my paranoia, that I will most likely not sleep much tonight. Magnificently done.

I realize we’re all gushing over Martin but I love how this establishes how people view the Institute in the real world. It’s a public entity, this is a place people go to and work at that deals with the supernatural *openly*, which I imagine would make them look like crackpots to those who don’t know better. I really like this approach to a supernatural academic entity. They’re not interested in covering anything up like, say, the SCP Foundation. They are merely into studying it. It’s really cool :)

Aw, man, I feel so bad for Martin, he just wanted to make sure he did a good job for his boss :(

How whipped did Jon have this man that he broke into a building and headed back into the spooky death basement two times for fear of what Jon would say if he returned with nothing

I always took John's unflattering description of Martin as him just being a sour puss. Since John doesn't seem like a people person I thought that Martin was probably a good guy. But I definitely underestimated how much of a sweet fella Martin was going to be. He just wants John's approval :'( So... Martin appreciation club anyone?

keep forgetting that torch is another term for flashlight. the magnus lads just sound like the kind of people i'd expect to light an actual torch for this sort of job

Martin is..... great??? I'm gonna cry

I will protect Martin with everything I have

I would like to hug Martin please.

the comments on this one are so wholesome. Martin love gang.

i i love martin so much he better survive all of this shit also i want to see him more but he was so scared :((

Jon´s attitude towards Martin in the first season like homeboy you´re in for a surprise in the next couple of years

The fact that Jon immediately offered Martin shelter at the institute was both wholesome and terrifying. Even before he mentioned the phone, I knew shit was about to go down.

I know there’s so much more than just this to consider, (in both Jon and Martin’s relationship and in the grand scheme of the story) but my favorite moment in this episode - maybe ever? - HAS to be: “I wouldn’t lie to you, I like- my job...”

I actually had a dream last night about silver-transparent worms covering my whole bedroom. The ceiling, the walls, my bed, everything. Some of them managed to get on my legs and I tried to get them off but no matter what I did, I couldn't seem to shake them off of me. Anyways, congratulations, you guys have successfully given me a nightmare and I'm sure I will get another one tonight

I'm literally cringing in my seat at the sound that plays when the worms are squirming. It's making my skin crawl. This episode is great.

It was nice of jane to keep in touch with jon so Martin wouldn't lose his job

I really really hate Jane's description, my trypophobia made this the worst episode for my nerves, BUT I LIKE IT SO MUCH, FINALLY WE HEARD MARTIN AND HE'S SO SWEET

"I'm not exactly the smallest guy in the world" Who else is imagining this sweet cinnamon roll as a 6'6" mountain of muscle who could have forced the door off its hinges with one hand. But that would have been rude

i love this, 21 episodes of "ugh i hate martin" etc and this is the first time theres actual interaction between them and its so FUNNY i love it so much

"I like spiders! :D"

Martin: goes to a house where a magic spider haunted the dude that killed it Also Martin: kills a worm

His voice is so sweet and lovely and wholesome and I would die for Martin Blackwood.

jon: ugh martin is so useless i hate him i wouldn't care if something happened to him >:( also jon: it's ok martin i believe you and you can stay here with me uwu god bless the tsundere archivist

I could _hear_ Martin's nervous glances towards Jon, and Jon's deadpan look back. Fucking talent.

Martin: "Wow, this place is really creepy, and I have a really bad feeling about this, maybe I should just go back. I guess John will be disappointed this time, eheh..." Martin thinks for a few seconds. Martin gets into the creepy place.

This went from an SCP/Creepypasta thing to an interesting continuous narrative real quick

03:05 "I didn't want to come back to you without due diligence though, I've learned that lesson" More than once Martin says something like this and then chuckles joylessly, and that kinda makes me want to introduce Jon's face to something heavy. When Jon read Squirm, he was very displeased with the fact it could be connected to Jane, and it was obvious that Jane's case, much like the Leitner books, was confirmed for him. And yet, he hesitated in granting Martin's wish to give a statement and even went so far as to imply he can't really confirm Martin's clarity of mind. What a douche. Absolutely loved Martin's voice and the panicky nervous intonations. Beautiful acting. It's so weird how Martin obviously got out unscathed, but just the sheer fact it's somebody we "know" and already care about made this so much more tense. Where my trypophobes at? Brr.

I can FEEL Johnathan Sims eyes roll at 6:08 when Martin says spooky

Jon: I believe you? Martin: wha- really? Wow I wasnt expecting you to at all- And it was at this moment I realized that Martin has the personality of a fricking puppy.

This series is so amazing! I kind of loved the part where the music stopped right as martin said "spooky." that got a laugh out of me

I should stop eating when I'm listening to this

"She was facing away from me, apparently staring at the corner of the wall." *BLAIR WITCH FLASHBACKS INTENSIFY*

Martin sounds like he gives the best hugs

Like, how can you listen to this and not devote your entire existence to Martin's protection? I've heard his voice for like 5 seconds at the beginning and I'm ready to kill and die for him, sir, he is one the sole purest things on this cruel, cruel world.

i can totally picture martin fiddling with the hem of his shirt. also, he pauses quite a bit, i think those pauses are him looking at jon like, 'am i doing it right?' i love him sm

Man Squirm was the only one of these so far that’s managed to keep me up at night, and when he mentioned the strange maggot things in Arachnophobia I got flashbacks. So now I feel... vindicated? Yikes though...

I love how like 90% of this comments section is just people simping over Martin, like me too XD

haven't listened to the whole thing yet but as soon as martin spoke I just went: OMG IS THAT MARTIN??? OMFG GOD HE SOUNDS SO B A B Y

Me: *chilling, eating corn* Martin: *describes the woman's skin and the worms in it* Me: *slowly pushes corn away from me*

This one is wild to listen to during quarantine

Hold up. I'm 2 minutes in and dying at Martin saying Jon can attest to him being and and Jon just meeting him with absolute silence. DYING. This is gonna be a good one

Poor Martin, he gets so much shit from John, and he just wants to be taken seriously

*"due diligence" shall now be my new phrase for "notice me my bossy senpai"*

"I _liked_ my job." We've probably all got a horror story that fits with that.

martin is incredibly precious i've only known him for two days but i would die for him without hesitation

coming from today, where we are confirmed for a sequel, everyone either making “worm sfx=that’s what good pasta sounds like” or “MARTIN IS BABY” comment is hilarious

Martin: ...you're going to think I'm an idiot for saying this... Jonathan: I already think you're an idiot.

I have a habit of listening to these when I'm drawing or playing minecraft, and I'm starting to want to just sit and listen to them and nothing else, because I keep feeling like I'm missing out on important details. Maybe I'll use this as a reason to start taking regular walks and actually get out of the house for once.

I haven't even met Martin yet but I relate and would die for him

OH MY GOD YOU CAN HEAR MARTIN BLUSHING WHEN JON TELLS HIM TO STAY IN THE ARCHIVES Edit: 20:07

I really didn’t expect a podcast with no visuals to trigger my trypophobia but by golly you’ve done it. I’m disgusted and impressed

i LOVE how all the stories weave into eachother im obsessed

I didn't think I had trypophobia.... I Might have to reconsider this.

“A room in the archives where i used to sleep when working late” I am this episodes in, i know he either canonically is a workaholic, or fanonically is a workaholic. Also Jon my little black cat child!!

Martin's Shadow: *moves* Martin: I don't like that.

I know you hate the word but it was reeeeealy...🥺spooky🥺

.... holy shit... MARTIN IS SO GOD DAMN FUCKING ADORABLE!!! Personally I like the smaller spiders, Jumping spiders or wolf spiders are my favorite due to their personalities usually, but mainly the big adorable curious eyes from the jumping spider, ready to give a lil’... hop! Ahh! In either case, I find it equally adorable that the entire time Jon was describing Martin, and how he seemed to hate him, but then this shows how much he actually cares about him! Ahh, this is fucking great!! The horror actually gets to you, the story is fantastic, and I am kinda glad to have all this free time!

Martin: *exists for one episode so far* Me: I love you

When martin was talking about likeing spiders reminded me of that meme with everyone saying they hate clowns and that guys just like "i think clowns are delightful"

I know I’m... late to the party, but I have to comment on this. (Spoilers for this episode of course) Near the end there with the text message John received he was composed as ever. Regardless of if he is disbelieving or shaken to his core he’s almost always composed. This actor is brilliant. I read someone’s comment that said they liked Martin because he was expressive while John sounded like he was still telling a story. But don’t you hear it...? The difference between his calm and when he’s shaken to his core. It is the epitome of his character. I can’t quite place it but on the surface he speaks the same, but under... it seems less monotonous and infinitesimally(the tiiiniest amount) shakey, as if his mind and his mouth were not speaking the same words as is usually the feel of his out-of-account speech. He tries to stay professional, composed, put together. Only when he’s caught especially off guard does he exclaim like he did at the end of last episode. When he speaks his fears there’s still a wall. He speaks them to enlighten others of dangers and things to be careful of, nothing more. Vulnerability is not his job. I can hear him saying that. But if you listen closely, he seems deeply afraid of death. Not death exactly, an awful death specifically. He’s afraid of what awful thing might come for him as head archivist, and of whatever killed the last. That struck me this episode and the episode of the Dreamer. As ill-organized as this comment was, I hope I did my analysis justice

A lot of ppl mention how jon acts kind all of a sudden towards martin and that it is very sudden but i think the explanation is obvious . Hearing your coworker got trough 2 weeks of hell kinda bc of you (since martin wouldnt have gone back to the place if it wasnt for him trying to impress jon afraid jon will get mad if he came back with nothin) then jon would probly feel guilt, even if he doesnt particularly show it tru words or apologies rather acts.

Bro i only heard Martin for like 5 minutes and if anything happens to him i will destroy the world and then me

Jon has had to hide behind disdain 'very' hard to mask his unfortunate crush for his subordinate. ;)

at 21:13 you can hear martin take a shaky deep breath, such good acting it's subtle and feels natural. also major(?) spoilers below Jane not actually trying to get into the apartment makes so much sense when you find out later she's not trying to kill him, she wanted him alive to feed off his fear.

I was waiting for Martin to appear and I was not dissapointed

Martin- i wish i brought a torch Also Martin- my phone has a camera Bro, that thing's definitely got a flashlight on it

Man this podcast has me collecting phobias like stickers

MARTIN SOUNDS SO FUCKING SWEET. THIS IS THE PERSON JOHN WAS BEING SO MEAN TO?

Jane Prentiss: bruh I'm here for the photo and here's your phone Martin:

Martin is so precious omg.......

And here i am, relistening to the entire podcast after recovering from MAG200.... sobs early Martin my fucking beloved.

this ep references pretty much all prev episodes...... worm, spiders, tight squeeze window, burnt worm, musty smell, black ooze, weird shadow, undulating shadow, etc etc, wet meat, holes in the skin like the meat apartment dude, lights off like with serial killer's daughter story, all there various characters, knocking like with coffin, pipes like with not!graham and war piper story, books, witch, something in throat(?) like with vampire tongue,

i stan martin

OK WAIT I'M CONFUSED last episode ended with Martin probably dropping something like worms in front of Jon or so, it's literally the same sound that occasionally plays in this episode! But... nobody mentions that anymore? I can only assume that happened some time after this statement and that's a slightly horrifying thought 😱

I’m so glad I have strong stomach, because I was just eating my chicken sandwich and fries- and Martin starts going into detail of the woman and I was just like “Bruh- I’m eating.” And I just continued without feeling too sick listening. Also Martin is the reason I started listening to TMA and it’s amazing so far. Perfect to a tea!

the little pauses waiting for Jon to say something only to realize he won't and then awkwardly laugh about it are SOO cute😭😭 Btw I feel like martin either is either extremely scared of Jon, or that he cares about jon REALLY much.. I know it's bad... But I'm kinda starting to ship them..

Martins utter disbelief when Jon tells him about the safe room is so funny

Mark me down as freaked and joining the 'Marting Protection Squad'

When you're listening back through and hear sweet Martin's voice for the first time again. 😊